a/n: BIRTHDAY CHAPTER! Hope you like it! Please answer the question from the previous chapter!

Kylie

One and Only

Chapter Thirty-five

The next morning Hermione slid out of bed around 5:30 (that was extremely early for a Saturday.) She showered and changed into a pair of capris and a blue zip-up sweatshirt over a white shirt and clipped up her hair before going to the kitchen to talk to the elves about making a cake.

An hour later she brought up a cake that she had helped them make along with silverware this time. Of course they had insisted she didn't but she helped anyways. She had a table conjured and placed the cake on it. Next she conjured balloons and streamers for decoration. Everything was set. Now all she had to do was wake Ron. She walked over to the bed and put her lips to his. Ron opened his eyes and his lips curled into a smile.

"Morning." He said in a tired voice.

"Happy Birthday." Hermione said with a smile. Ron smiled and pulled her into the bed with him.

"Thank you." Ron said, kissing her. She giggled and kissed him back.

"Anything special you want to do today?" She asked before giving him another kiss.

"Just be with you." Ron said, giving her another kiss. "And forget about the Prophet." He gave her another kiss. They ended up kissing after each of them said something and they were just making no-sense-sentences until they were just kissing. After several minutes Hermione pulled away.

"I've got a surprise for you." Hermione said.

"What's that?" Ron asked. Hermione stood up and led him to the table. He smiled when he saw the cake. "Cake for breakfast!" He said with a smile. Hermione nodded.

"Yup, just for you on your birthday." Hermione said.

"But are you sure you don't want some?" Ron said, pretending to reach for the cake with his hand. Hermione grabbed his hand.

"Don't you dare!" She said. "I worked so hard on that cake this morning. And plus, I want you to open your presents before you start throwing any cake." She said. Ron smiled and pulled her in for a kiss. Then he looked around at all of the balloons and decorations.

"It looks great in here." Ron said. Hermione started to fold up the couch.

"I did it just for you." She said with a smile. Ron smiled back and stuck his finger in the frosting before eating it. "Why don't you get dressed? Harry and Ginny will be here soon and I want you to open your presents." Ron smiled as he walked over to his trunk.

"I take it that you got me a good present." Ron said. "Is that why you keep bringing it up?"

"You'll see." Hermione said with a smile, folding blankets.

"Can I have a hint?" He asked, turning to look at Hermione. She smiled, pretending to look like she was thinking.

"Nope," she finally said. Ron chuckled and went to change. As Hermione finished straightening things up Harry and Ginny came into the common room. Ron was sitting at the table, picking at the cake with a fork and Hermione was anxiously waiting for them to enter. Ron was in mid-bite when Ginny shoved a present in his face.

"Open it!" She said. Ron looked surprised but Harry and Ginny both wanted to get these first ones out of the way.

"Alright." Ron said with a full mouth. He swallowed and started to tear off the paper. Ginny had gotten him a broom polishing kit. "Thanks Gin. It'll come in handy." Ron said.

"No problem." Ginny said quickly. Harry shoved his in Ron's face.

"Happy Birthday mate." Harry said.

"Thanks." Ron said a little confused. He took the present and went to take another bite of the cake but the other three objected. Ron looked confused at them. "What?"

"Forget about the cake." Hermione said. "Just open your presents."

"Alright." Ron said now fully suspicious and very confused. He watched their reactions as he slowly started to open it. Ginny got frustrated and grabbed the present out of his hand. She tore it open and handed it to him.

"Look it's a book about being a keeper!" She said with mock enthusiasm. "It'll come in handy! Oh and a shirt! It'll come in handy considering if you out clothes on. Now open Hermione's." Hermione shoved the wrapped Quaffle and chocolates in his face. Ron looked at the three of them with an odd look.

"Is there a reason why I'm opening these presents like they're on fire?" Ron asked.

"Just open them!" Harry exclaimed exasperated. Ron took a confused look around but then saw Ginny look as if she was going to take them from his hand so he started to open them.

"Thanks Mione." Ron said. He leaned in for a kiss but Hermione shoved the wrapped gold plaque in his face. He didn't object to opening this one because the three of them looked as if they might bite his head off. He opened it and was even more confused when he saw the words on it. "What's this for?" He asked. "I've only got a couple months left to work at the Herald. It's not like I can use it after."

"I thought it would go nice on your door." Hermione said with a smile. They lost all of their pushiness and waited to see his reaction. She handed him the box with the key and the deed. Ron opened the box and took out the key; he looked at it and then picked up the deed as well.

"The Quidditch Memorabilia Shop?" Ron asked. "What's that for?"

"It's your new paper office." Harry said. Ron looked up at all of them still unsure of what they meant. As of right now he thought that they were moving the Herald office.

"People would rather read the truth than lies." Ginny said. Ron's eyes widened and their pushiness made sense.

"You mean–" He looked down at the key and the deed in his hand. Hermione turned his face to look at her.

"You've already proved that you can create a newspaper. Now you've got the space to create one that isn't full of lies." Hermione said. She gave him a kiss. Harry slid an envelope and a moneybag with the leftover money in it.

"And you've got money to start up with. You could get your supplies, and furniture." Harry said. Ron put down the key and deed and read the card. He looked up at them, speechless.

"And I was thinking that I could work on the advice column for it." Ginny said. "Next year I'll be here but I could still work on the advice part and get it to you and after that I could still work at the Ministry and write the advice." She smiled at Ron. Ron had barely uttered a word since he found out what they did for him. He wasn't sure what to say but the first thing that came to mind put a smile on everyone's face.

"Now I don't have to work at the Ministry." He said sounding relieved. The other three laughed but then Ron's face turned serious.

"I really don't know what to say but...thanks." He said looking sincerely at them. "This is amazing."

"Don't worry about it." Harry said.

"You deserve it Ron." Ginny said.

"We love you and we want you to be happy." Hermione said. Ron gave her hand a squeeze. Ron looked at the names on the card again.

"So everyone helped out with this?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, when we told them about it they wanted to help too. You've got a whole staff full of people that want to work on the new paper." Harry said. Ron smiled.

"This is incredible. Thanks." He said. He gave Hermione a hug and a kiss, gave Ginny a hug and then when he got to Harry he gave him a "guy hug" (you know one of those with the back slaps.) When he sat back down he looked at the cake. "Am I allowed to eat this now?" Ron asked. They laughed. Hermione dipped her finger into the frosting and put it on Ron's nose. He laughed and kissed her, then he ate some cake and went to take a good look at his other presents, thanking the three of them a dozen times. He got the normal sweater and candy from his parents, he got a soccer ball from Hermione's parents, and somewhat dangerous gift from Hagrid that he wasn't quite sure what it was. He was checking out the book that Harry got him when Lupin and Tonks came into the Common Room.

"Happy Birthday Ron." Tonks said, handing him a present from her and Lupin.

"Thanks." Ron said. He opened it and found several books on editing.

"You could use them to help you get started." Lupin said. Ron smiled.

"Well I don't really have any employees to start out with either. Interested in a job?" Ron asked him, knowing that Lupin didn't have a job and Tonks wasn't going to be able to work for a while after she had Penny and Lupin could be an asset to the paper.

"What'd you have in mind?" Lupin asked with a smile.

"Anything. I currently have any job you want except of course advice column." Ron looked over at Ginny with a smile. Hermione was beaming. Ron was finally happy and out of his depressed state. No matter how he acted or what he said he had been depressed even after Fred and George talked to him. Now that was changed and the glimmer of happiness was back in his eyes.

"Well I've always wanted to try my hand at reporting the news." Lupin said thoughtfully.

"Welcome to the Magical Gazette." Ron said with a smile.

"Magical Gazette?" Hermione asked. Ron nodded.

"Yeah I was thinking about it." Ron said. "Do you like it?" Hermione smiled.

"I love it." Hermione said. An echo of 4 me too's agreed with her. Ron smiled.

"So, so far I have two staff members on my newspaper." He paused for a second, liking the effect of those last two words. "And then I have talk to everyone at the Herald office." His smiled kept getting bigger and bigger.

"This was an awesome gift. Thanks." Ron said.

"You're welcome but mate if you say thanks one more time I'm going to have to take it back." Harry joked. Ron smiled.

"Sorry." Ron said. "I just can't believe this. I own a newspaper."

"One without lies." Ginny reminded him.

"Right, without lies." Ron said. He heard his stomach growl. "Can we go to eat now?" He asked, "I'm starved." Hermione laughed.

"What, the cake wasn't enough for you?" Hermione joked looking at what used to be the cake. There was about a half piece left.

"That was perfect but now I need desert." He said, picking up the last piece with his hands and shoving it in Hermione's mouth. She tried to hold it in and not laugh, everyone around her was laughing and she was finding it difficult to swallow the cake and not laugh. Finally she managed to swallow it, choking with laughter. There was still cake around her mouth but before she could wipe it away Ron grabbed her and kissed her, clearing the cake away. Everyone laughed and started to get up, to leave the happy couple. Ron and Hermione also got up only because they planned to come back later on. Everyone headed down to breakfast. Ron had his arm around Hermione and he was talking about transforming the memorabilia shop, saying what he would do with it. Hermione was smiling and listening to him talk, feeling ecstatic. Tonks and Lupin were happy to hear that he was happy again but they went to go rest because they had already eaten and Tonks needed the rest. Ginny and Harry were glad to see that Ron was back to his old self. They made it down to breakfast and they were each handed a copy of the Herald, Denis and Colin wishing Ron a happy birthday and congratulating him on the new paper. Ron was waving and saying hi to everyone. Hermione could tell he was happy. They sat down and Ron started to pile food on his plate.

"So what are we going to do today?" Hermione asked.

"Well," Ron started with a full mouth. He swallowed and turned to look at Hermione. "I was thinking that we could go spend a nice day outside, play some Quidditch and then maybe come in a bit early." His eyebrows went up and Hermione knew what he meant.

"We'll see." Hermione said with a smile and devilish look in her eye. "If you play your cards right." She puckered her lips and blew him a kiss. He winked. Harry and Ginny rolled their eyes at them.

"Get a room." Ginny joked, looking at the couple.

"It's my birthday." Ron said with a smile. "We can do this wherever we want so leave us alone." Hermione giggled at what he said.

"That's always your excuse for everything." Ginny said.

"Only when it's my birthday." Ron shrugged with a happy smile.

"That is a good reason." Harry agreed shoving a forkful of food into his mouth.

"Remember that on my birthday." Ginny said to Harry. She smiled at him in a way that only he knew what it meant. They had their own form of flirting.

Breakfast went by quickly, Ron led them outside to a sunny day. Although it was sunny, it was still windy and they had their coats.

"Shall we play Quidditch first?" Ron asked in a very cheerful manner. Harry and Ginny agreed but Hermione looked hesitant.

"I'll keep score." She said. Ron shook his head and took her hand, leading them toward the Quidditch pitch.

"Nope, your gunna be Keeper for our team and I'm going to help you." Ron said. Hermione opened her mouth to protest but Ron cut her off. "Don't argue with me, it's my birthday." He said. Hermione smirked but did not argue. She didn't want to spoil his good time.

"Alright but when we loose I'm sticking it to you because you made me play." Hermione said.

"We won't loose." Ron said, surely. Harry and Ginny sniggered but Ron looked confident. They went out to the broom shed, each taking a broom (Hermione using Ron's old one) and releasing the Snitch and taking the Quaffle. Ron, Harry, and Ginny started up. Hermione was still on the ground, holding the broom tightly in her hands, deciding if she had the nerve to do it. Ron flew down next to her and landed.

"I can't do it." Hermione said.

"Now that's not the Hermione Granger attitude." Ron said. "She can do anything and wouldn't let something like a little fall stop her." Hermione still looked unsure. Ron took her chin with two fingers and guided it up to his face so she was looking directly at him. "Hermione I promise I won't let you fall. I didn't last time and I promise I won't this time." Ron said in an assuring voice before giving her a peck on the lips. Hermione's eyes closed and she took a deep breath before starting to guide the broom upwards. Ron was smiling as he followed her. As they rose Ron calmed her and her breathing steadied. They made it to where Harry and Ginny were.

"Alright." Ron said. "We're not playing with bludgers because we don't want anyone to get hurt." He smiled at Hermione. "The person who is the chaser is also the seeker and then there is the keeper. And we'll switch halfway through the game." Ron decided, making the rules up as he went along. Hermione smiled at him as he explained.

Harry and Ginny decided that Harry would be the keeper to start out with and Ginny would be the chaser/seeker to start out with. Hermione was the keeper and Ron was the chaser/seeker.

The game started and Ron had the Quaffle but it was quickly taken by Ginny. She came at Hermione and Hermione was getting nervous. As Ginny went to make the goal Hermione moved out of the way so it got past. Harry cheered and Ron flew by Hermione.

"I'm sorry." Hermione said. "I was afraid of getting hit."

"Don't apologize." Ron said. "Look, what you need to do is find Ginny's weakness, which is distraction. If you distract her then I can get the Quaffle." Ron said.

"Alright." Hermione agreed with an unsure nod. Hermione gave him a kiss before he zoomed away. This time Ginny got the Quaffle away from Ron and went for Hermione but Hermione was a tad more confident. Ginny was coming closer, Hermione held out a pointed finger behind Ginny. "Hippogriff!" Hermione exclaimed. Ginny halted in her tracks. She looked behind her then back at Hermione.

"What?" She asked confused. Ron then swooped in and took the Quaffle, heading for Harry. Harry was not as good a keeper as he was seeker and missed. The game went on and Hermione and Ron tried that tactic several times before Ginny finally ignored them and made her goals so that she and Harry were even with Ron and Hermione. Soon they decided to switch. A nervous Hermione was now the chaser/seeker along with Harry as Ginny and Ron were keepers. After Ron saved a goal from Harry, Hermione went to Ron to find Harry's weakness.

"As a chaser Harry's weakness is just being a chaser because he's rubbish at it but as a seeker he doesn't have a weakness." Ron told her. Hermione nodded. "He'll probably go easy on you so it won't be too bad." Ron said.

"Alright." Hermione said. She flew off with the Quaffle. She managed to make one on Ginny. They went back to starting position when Hermione noticed the snitch above Harry's head, she went for it and he thought that she was going for the Quaffle so he zoomed away as Hermione caught the snitch in her hand. Ginny cursed at Harry and Ron cheered on Hermione as he flew toward her. Harry looked completely dumbfounded that someone who stunk at Quidditch could manage to catch the Snitch before he could. Hermione looked just as surprised but Ron pulled her in for a kiss before she could say anything. Ginny flew over to Harry.

"What was that?" Ginny asked.

"I didn't see it." He confessed.

"Maybe we do need four practices a week." Ginny joked. Harry laughed.

"I'll race you to the ground and we'll see who needs more practice." He said, going for the ground. Ginny was right after him.

Ron and Hermione broke from their lip-lock and headed for the ground. Hermione was nervous considering that landings weren't her favorite part in flying. They finally made it to the ground Hermione landed and started walking away from her broom as fast as possible.

Once they were off the Quidditch Pitch Hermione turned to Ron who had just grabbed her hand.

"So what's next?" She asked.

"Well I wanted to talk to a few people, eat some lunch and then relax." He said with the eyebrows, Hermione giggled.

"As long as we're not in the air it's fine with me." Hermione said. They walked around until they found Ernie and Hannah nestled comfortably by a tree together. Hello's and Happy Birthday's were exchanged as Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny settled themselves down by them. Ron started to explain about the Gazette and Hannah and Ernie graciously accepted. Ron then looked for the rest of the seventh years on the paper. Every single one of them accepted his offer. Lastly he found Smith, heading to lunch with Susan Bones on his arm, who happened to be Smith's new love interest. Ron proposed the job to Smith and he accepted it with an attitude even though it was obvious that he was thrilled for a new job.

Ron and Hermione happily ate lunch although it was at a much faster pace than normal.

"So we're…uh… we're going to go…" Ron started awkwardly not sure how to put it.

"It's alright mate. We get it." Harry said. "It's your birthday. We'll see you later." He took Ginny's hand and they hurried off, with their own plans. Ron and Hermione started up to the common room. As the door opened Hermione pulled Ron in by the shirt collar. She kissed him deeply and shut the portrait hole. She pressed him up against a wall and moved her body on his. As she kissed him she started to take his khaki jacket off as he pulled her black one off. He started down her neck as she went for the buttons on his jeans. They slowly stepped back towards the bed, removing all clothes and expressing their love for each other.

a/n: so what di ya think? Please let me know!

Luv ya'll

Kylie